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命を取り留める (いのちをとりとめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

命いのちを取とり留とめる

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

escape death; be saved from death

Used when someone survives a life-threatening situation, such as a serious illness, accident, or injury. Often implies a narrow escape.

See also: 一命を取り留める (いちめいをとりとめる)

彼かれは交こう通つう事じ故こで重じゅう傷しょうを負おったが、一いち命めいを取とり留とめた。
He was seriously injured in a traffic accident, but he escaped death.

医い者しゃの懸けん命めいな治ち療りょうのおかげで、患かん者じゃは命いのちを取とり留とめた。

Thanks to the doctor's desperate treatment, the patient was saved from death.

Written forms

命いのちを取とり留とめる
Standard kanji spelling for this expression.
命いのちをとりとめる
Kana spelling of the verb part; common in everyday writing.
命いのちを取とりとめる
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still used.

Kanji

命fate, command, decree
取take, fetch, take up
留detain, fasten, halt

Similar words

一いち命めいを取とり留とめる
Synonymous expression; 一命 (one life) emphasizes the individual's life, while 命 is more general. Both are used interchangeably.

Etymology

Compound of 命 (life) + を (object marker) + 取り留める (to hold onto, to keep). The verb 取り留める itself is a compound of 取る (to take) and 留める (to stop, to fasten), literally meaning 'to take and hold onto life'.